Polk County Government Center will be open when clock strikes midnight on Aug. 1

Thursday

Jul 18, 2013 at 12:34 PMJul 18, 2013 at 12:36 PM

Cote says two couples have signed up to be legally married so far.

Jess Bengtson Staff Writer

In an effort to keep up with the ever-changing times we live in, the Polk County Government Center will open at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 and remain open for approximately an hour and a half, conducting a civil marriage ceremony just after midnight on August 1, 2013. August 1 is the date when it becomes legal for same-sex couples to marry under Minnesota law.

Michelle Cote, Polk County director of property record, wanted to stress that this special ceremony time is not only for same-sex couples.

"Any couple that wishes to get married on August 1 may partake," Cote told the Times. "We would like couples to sign up and they have to apply for their marriage license no later than July 26 due to the five day waiting period on all marriage licenses."

Cote anticipates the special ceremony will draw about ten couples, but only two from North Dakota have signed up as of Thursday morning, she said.

Polk County chose to mirror Clay County in what is being done regarding August first marital ceremonies.

"We figured that we a big county in northern Minnesota," Cote explained. "We thought this (performing a civil ceremony in the early morning hours of August 1) would be something we should look at doing."

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